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Regulatory Matters and Revenues Subject to Refund | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory matters and revenues subject to refund | Regulatory Matters and Revenues Subject to Refund On September 26, 2012, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the MTPSC for a natural gas rate increase. Montana-Dakota requested a total increase of $3.5 million annually or approximately 5.9 percent above current rates. The requested increase includes the costs associated with the increased investment in facilities, including ongoing investment in new and replacement distribution facilities, an operations building, automated meter reading and a new customer billing system. Montana-Dakota requested an interim increase, subject to refund, of $1.7 million or approximately 2.9 percent. On April 12, 2013, the MTPSC issued an interim order authorizing an interim increase of $850,000 annually to be effective with service rendered on or after April 15, 2013, subject to refund. A hearing was held August 5-6, 2013. On December 5, 2013, Montana-Dakota and the Montana Consumer Counsel filed a stipulation with the MTPSC with an increase of $1.5 million annually. On December 12, 2013, the MTPSC approved the stipulation to be effective with service rendered on or after December 15, 2013. On February 11, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for approval of an environmental cost recovery rider for recovery of Montana-Dakota's share of the costs resulting from the environmental retrofit required to be installed at the Big Stone Station. The costs proposed to be recovered are associated with the ongoing construction costs for the installation of the BART air-quality control system. On February 27, 2013, the NDPSC suspended the filing pending further review. On May 31, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed revisions to its filing to reflect revised budget amounts. A hearing was held on September 16, 2013. On December 18, 2013, the NDPSC approved the environmental cost recovery rider tariff and adjustment. On September 18, 2013, Montana-Dakota filed an application with the NDPSC for a natural gas rate increase. Montana-Dakota requested a total increase of $6.8 million annually or approximately 6.4 percent above current rates. The requested increase includes the costs associated with the increased investment in facilities, including ongoing investment in new and replacement distribution facilities, an operations building, automated meter reading and a new customer billing system. Montana-Dakota requested an interim increase, subject to refund, of $4.5 million or approximately 4.2 percent. On October 9, 2013, the NDPSC approved the interim increase to be effective with service rendered on or after November 17, 2013. On October 23, 2013, Montana-Dakota and the NDPSC Advocacy Staff filed a settlement agreement that resolved the revenue requirement portion of the application and reflected a natural gas rate increase of $4.3 million annually or approximately 4.0 percent, and agreed that Montana-Dakota will only implement $4.3 million of interim rate relief. The NDPSC held an informal hearing on the settlement on November 13, 2013. Montana-Dakota implemented the interim rate increase of $4.3 million effective with service rendered on or after November 17, 2013. On December 30, 2013, the NDPSC approved the settlement on the revenue requirement. A hearing on the rate design portion of the case was held February 5, 2014. On October 31, 2013, WBI Energy Transmission filed a general natural gas rate change application with the FERC for an increase of $28.9 million annually to cover increased investments of $312 million, increased operating costs, and the effect of lower storage and off system volumes. WBI Energy Transmission will begin collecting the requested rates effective May 1, 2014, subject to refund.

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